by Cari Cole

If you could change one thing about yourself in 2014 – what would it be?
Would you change your appearance? Your singing voice? Make yourself a better songwriter or blogger? Would you improve your rehearsal habits?
The success of most resolutions comes down to strengthening a few key traits in our personalities. Discipline, Focus, Confidence, and Attitude.
More discipline means you can really make progress because you’re committed to a schedule or plan. More focus means you can let go of the extraneous distractions and hone in on what really matters to you.
But what if you suck at discipline and focus?
There is one thing that could change all of that.
Your mindset.
Negative thinking will leave discipline, focus, confidence and attitude in the toilet. And you may not be a total Debbie Downer in public – but what about in private? How do you treat yourself? Your goals, dreams, hopes?
Most of us battle with negative thinking (it’s conditioned into us). And guess where it comes from?
Your thoughts.
Yep ;(.
Problem is, they’re hard-wired in.
But your thoughts – while real to you, aren’t facts. They are opinions. Observations that are shaped by your parents, your teachers, your environment, your experiences and by how you see the world.
The thought “there’s no money in music” isn’t true. It’s something you think because of what people have told you, what you read online, or from your fears, or past experiences.
But the coolest thing is – you can change your thoughts. You can change to a positive mindset. It just takes practice.
But first, take this quiz to see how much of a mindset shift you need.
The HOW STRONG IS YOUR MINDSET? QUIZ
This quiz is a Self Score quiz. On a scale of 1 – 5, 1 being the least, 5 being the most, score yourself – then add up the numbers and read your ranking below.
1. Do you have a parade of negative thoughts every day?
1 2 3 4 5
2. When your music gets rejected, how much does it negatively affect you?
1 2 3 4 5
3. When you have a setback i.e., financial, lose a band member, your album tanks, does it negatively affect you for more than a few days?
1 2 3 4 5
4. When you get overwhelmed do you curl up in a ball and go off-the-grid for awhile?
1 2 3 4 5
5. Do you think you can only be so successful (have a cap on your success?)
1 2 3 4 5
6. When you are struggling do you tend to blame others? (this one is tricky – be honest!)
1 2 3 4 5
7. Do you think success and wealth is evil or corrupt?
1 2 3 4 5
8. Do you secretly wish you had a manager to help you get your act together?
1 2 3 4 5
9. Do you think success as an artist has mostly to do with talent and little to do with business + people skills?
1 2 3 4 5
Calculate Your Score:
Add up your numbers above and see where you score below!
1 – 15 Congrats! You’re truly a positive thinker! I bet you’ve done a ton of work on yourself, or Jupiter is your middle name! Keep it up and spread your view with others who can benefit from your example!
15 – 24 You’ve got a pretty darn strong mindset! I’m sure you’ve worked on it quite a bit – yay you! But there’s always further to go. You still have some areas that need strengthening. Try being around more people who are positive to lift you even higher and for 30 days try brightening your thinking! Join us for our Joyful Mindset Experience: 31 Days to more love, abundance + productivity Jan 1 – Jan 31st when you join the Mind Over Music Circle for only $47 a month.
24 – 34 Things could be so much better for you! There is so much good waiting for you when you learn to turn your fears away and lean in to the positive as a possibility. It’s not as hard as you might imagine, but your thoughts are the key to your future. If you wonder what your future will be, survey your thoughts today. Try one full day of turning every negative thought into a positive one, i.e.: “I can’t do it” to – “It feels like I can’t, but I will find a way.” And bam, you’re on the path!
34 – 45 Ouch! You’re hurting yourself with your thoughts! Yes, you’ve got some work to do! But the good news is that even you, who is pretty much riddled on a daily basis with negativity, can overcome this plight, kick your fears to the curb and rise triumphant. It’s going to take some work, but the results are more than worth it. Try to catch your thoughts as they happen – that’s the first step. Say “who said that?” as if you are talking to another person. Then say “I don’t believe that” and tear your destroyer down!
How to Improve Your Score and Give Yourself an Instant Mindset Uplevel!
Ready to take control in 2014? If you want to truly take charge of your brain this year, I invite you to a program that has helped hundreds of artists and creative people turn their mindsets around and create a more fulfilling life and career (and make more money as a result). And – no matter where you score on the Mindset scale, you can too!
Join me and an awesome community of smart and savvy musicians to make 2014 the year you get control of your mind, your life and career. For only $47 a month you can join our Mind Over Music Monthly Circle. Experience what it’s like to be fully supported, encouraged, inspired, stimulated and infused with positivity – your career and life have no choice but to flourish and grow!
©2014 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag, Inc. All Rights Reserved.